25-04-2025
Kilkenny camogie legend Grace Walsh rules out retirement u-turn as she backs current Cats as All-Ireland contenders
KILKENNY legend Grace Walsh insists that her withdrawal from the inter-county camogie scene is more than just a Cat nap.
A senior debutante in 2011, Walsh is not part of the Kilkenny panel for 2025. And according to the three-time All-Ireland winner, there is no turning back.
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Grace Walsh of Kilkenny passes under pressure from Aishling O'Neill of Dublin during the Glen Dimplex Senior All-Ireland Championship quarter-final
Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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Former Kilkenny Minor Camogie Player Grace Walsh Ahead Of The 2025 Electric Ireland Camogie All-Ireland Minor Championship Finals
Credit: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
She explained: 'There's definitely a line firmly drawn under it. I just felt like it was kind of my time to go. I didn't really plan on making any announcements or anything like that.
'I had just kind of told the players after our last game against Dublin and that was kind of the way I wanted to finish it.
'But no, it's definitely finished for me now.'
Walsh considered stepping away after undergoing foot surgery in December 2023.
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But she returned for one more campaign, making her last appearance in black and amber at Croke Park last July as the Cats suffered an All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Dublin.
The 31-year-old said: 'I just kind of felt like my time was up and I really wanted to be able to finish when I still had something left in the tank so I could give back to my club.
'I feel like I owe a lot to Tullaroan for all the years that they've just supported me through my career with Kilkenny.'
A nurse based in Dublin, Walsh's decorated career yielded three All-Stars. She was also a nominee for the 2020 Player of the Year award.
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She continued: 'I'm very content with my decision.
'I've watched a couple of the girls' games and I've enjoyed just being an extra supporter on the sideline, to be honest.
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'It just felt like my body was very tired after all the years and driving up and down from Dublin.
'I suppose we play the game because we absolutely love it and I just felt like that kind of spark was getting a little bit less than what it always was.
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'I just felt like I didn't want to stay going and be one of those players that they're like, 'Would she ever retire? Would she ever step away?'
'So I just kind of wanted to step away while I was still on the starting team and kind of go out on my own terms, I suppose.'
Since Walsh shone at full-back in the 2022 All-Ireland final win over Cork, Kilkenny have gradually slipped down the pecking order. However, she is convinced that Tommy Shefflin's side can still be O'Duffy Cup contenders.
Walsh said: 'Those girls are not there just to compete and to get to a quarter-final or a semi-final.
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'They're there because they believe they're good enough to get to an All-Ireland final and to get over the line.
'As somebody from Kilkenny, that's how I feel about them as well.
'There's a lot of new young girls in there, new blood, and I think Tommy Shefflin and his management crew, they're so passionate about the game, and I think that's a really important thing to have.
'I think they'll do pretty well and they could go all the way hopefully.'
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l GRACE WALSH was speaking ahead of this weekend's Electric Ireland Camogie All-Ireland Minor Championship finals. Electric Ireland are spotlighting players and their parents in recognition of the major impact that playing minor can have on young people's future successes on and off the field. Follow the campaign on social media @ElectricIreland and via the hashtag #ThisIsMajor.
